Pin fastener and system for use

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a locking pin that takes advantage of a simpler manufacturing process, fewer parts to effectively lock the pin onto an object. The locking pin is in one embodiment for fastening an object by means of an object hole of a predetermined object hole diameter to the pin. The pin comprises an elongated shaft having a forward end and a rearward end with a pinhead at the rearward end. A pair of laterally opposed notches formed at a predetermined location along the length of the shaft. The portion of the shaft between the pair of laterally opposed notches is defined for reference purpose as the lock base. A forward hole and at least one rearward hole that extends through the lock base proximal to the forward end of the lock base. A wire lock is made of a spring-biased wire that is bendable upon compression and returns to its original shape. The wire lock is received into the forward hole and rearward hole. The wire lock in an uncompressed position has forward facing gradually tapered surface along the wire arms from a first end to a second end and a rearward facing abutment surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/548,024 filed Oct. 17, 2011 and U.S. Provisional Application No.61/548,209 filed Oct. 17, 2011 both applications of which areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a fastening pin and system for useto securely fasten to an object and more particularly to a fasteningsystem that can be used without aid of a tool.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

There is a need in the art for fasteners that are capable of beingfastened to an object or to connect two objects together without use ofa tool. Toolless fasteners have been in use for many years. However, thecost of these devices is significantly greater than a nut and boltfastening assembly. However, in certain applications, the time savingresulting from use of a toolless fastener can make a significant impact.

One toolless fastener is a clevis pin comprising a shaft with a frontend and a rear end. A pinhead is located at the rear end of the shaft. Apinhole is drilled laterally and is located near the front end. The pinpasses through a hole in an object. The object slides along the shaft ofthe pin from a tapered forward end towards the rear end of the shaftuntil the object passes the pinhole. A cotter pin or similar devicepasses through the pinhole in the clevis pin to secure the objectbetween the head and the cotter pin.

The cost of manufacturing a clevis pin is relatively low. Securing thepin with a cotter pin required a pair of pliers to bend the cotter pinafter inserted into the hole. Thus, the timesavings relating to use of acotter pin could be improved upon.

There is a self-locking pin commonly referred to as a ball detent pinthat is an adaptation of the clevis pin. The self-locking pin typicallyis comparable in shape with a clevis pin having a shaft with a front endand a rear end with a head to prevent an object sliding along the shaftpast the head. The hole houses one or two ball bearings that arelaterally or outwardly biased—typically by a spring or an axiallymovable pin. The bearings are secure by forming a lip proximal to theone or more ball bearings so the ball bearings extend laterally outwardpast the diameter of the pin and are biased in that outward position bythe spring or pin.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,039 discloses a self-locking pin similar to a detentpin but with unidirectional locking. In one embodiment the self-lockingpin has an elongated shaft with a first end and a second headed end. Theshaft has a hole bored in it with a plunger slidably disposed in thehole. The plunger has a lower cylindrical portion and an upperwedge-shaped portion. A shoulder is formed on the lateral sides of theplunger where these two portions meet. The plunger is biased in thehole. The shaft of the pin is staked on lateral sides of the plungerwith a perpendicular radius punch to retain the plunger in the hole. Thelocation of the staking corresponds to the plunger's shoulders having atapered front side and a flat back side. This allows the object having ahole compatible in size to the pin to slide over the pin past the lockmechanism in a first direction until the object passes theunidirectional lock. When the object is then slid in a forward directionthe object abuts against the flat backside of the lock mechanism to lockthe object between the locking mechanism and the head.

However, these pins are relatively expensive due to the multiplemanufacturing steps required to (i) form the locking mechanism, (ii)insert the ball bearings or unidirectional locks pin to be outwardlybiased by a spring or sliding pin mechanism, and (ii) secure the lockingmechanism in place so that it extends laterally outward past thediameter of the pin.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,267,420 discloses a hitch system includes a handleportion including a handle loop, a pin portion extending from the handleportion, a pair of opposite retainers and a trigger. The retainersproject radially outward in an extended position. The retainers areconnected to or integrally formed with a trigger mechanism that allowsthe retainers to be movable between a retracted position and an extendedposition. The hitch pin is made of multiple parts that requirerelatively extensive manufacturing steps.

It would be advantageous to have a locking pin that is capable ofunidirectional locking. Is manufactured by fewer processing steps fromless expensive parts, is outwardly self-biasing. It would be furtheradvantageous to have a locking mechanism that can be inserted into placewithout a tool, but is difficult to remove without the use of a tool.The present invention addresses these and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a locking pin that takes advantage of a simplermanufacturing process, fewer parts to effectively lock the pin onto anobject. The locking pin is in one embodiment for fastening an object bymeans of an object hole of a predetermined object hole diameter to thepin. The pin comprises an elongated shaft having a forward end and arearward end with a pinhead at the rearward end. A pair of laterallyopposed notches formed at a predetermined location along the length ofthe shaft. The portion of the shaft between the pair of laterallyopposed notches is defined for reference purpose as the lock base. Aforward object hole that extends through the lock base proximal to theforward end of the lock base. A wire lock is made of a shape memory orspring biased wire that is bendable upon compression and returns to itsoriginal shape. By generally returns to its original shape it means thatthe wire lock returns sufficiently close to its original shape toperform its locking function.

The wire lock is biased towards a first uncompressed position and iscompressible towards a second compressed position. The wire lock has afront end and a rear end. The front end of the wire lock passeslaterally through the forward object hole and has two wire arms thatextend rearward and are biased radially outwardly towards the rear endof the wire lock and proximal to the ends of the wire arms are bentinward towards and terminate in one or more rear openings locatedproximal the rear end of the lock base.

In one embodiment, the front end of the wire lock has a width that isless than the diameter of the shaft. In the first uncompressed positionthe rear end of the wire lock is in an uncompressed position and isgreater than the predetermined object hole diameter to form a forwardfacing gradually tapered surface along the wire arms from the first endto the second end and a rearward facing abutment surface. In the secondcompressed position, the rear end has a diameter less than thepredetermined object hole diameter.

In another embodiment, the pin has a shaft that is configured to bereceived into the object hole and the object is slidable in a rearwarddirection. The sliding in a rearward direction causes the wire lock tobe compressed toward the second compressed position until the object ispositioned between the abutment surface and the rearward end of theshaft effectively locking the object therebetween.

In one embodiment, the locking pin has an elongated shaft that istapered at the forward end.

In still another embodiment, the pinhead is threadable onto the rear endof the shaft. In yet another embodiment, the locking pin has a lock basethat is located proximal to the forward end. Optionally, the lock pinhas a lock base that is located a distance that is longitudinally spacedapart from the forward end by a preset length. In one embodiment, thepreset length is greater than ⅛ of the length of the shaft, preferablygreater than one fourth of the length of the shaft, more preferablygreater than one-half of the length of the shaft, most preferablygreater than two-thirds of the length of the shaft.

In another embodiment, the object has a first wall, an at leastpartially enclosed cavity and a second wall opposite from the firstwall. The expression “partially enclosed cavity” means a cavity that isprotected by a third wall in at least one direction perpendicular to theaxis of the hole in addition to the first wall and the second wall. Thethird wall connects the first wall to the second wall. Typically, thehole passes in an axial direction through the first wall and the secondwall. The lock base is located axially spaced apart from the forward endand wherein the shaft is compatible with the size of the object hole.Furthermore, the object is slidable in a rearward direction relative tothe hole. The sliding in a rearward direction causes the wire lock to becompressed toward the second compressed position until at least thefirst wall of the object is positioned between the abutment surface andthe rearward end of the shaft. Once positioned such, the object iseffectively locked onto the shaft. This embodiment has the advantage ofthe locking pin being located within the cavity so that access to thelocking pin is obstructed by the walls of the object.

In another embodiment, there is a process for making a locking pin thatis configured to fasten an object by means of an object hole of apredetermined object hole diameter to the pin, the pin comprising thesteps of:

providing an elongated shaft having a forward end and a rearward endwith a pin head at the rearward end;

i. cutting a pair of laterally opposed notches at a predeterminedlocation along the length of the shaft to form a lock base between thenotches;

ii. drilling a forward hole through the lock base proximal to theforward end of the lock base and at least one rear openings;

iii. forming a wire lock having a front end sized and configured to bereceived through the forward hole, wherein the width of the front end isless than the diameter of the shaft and greater than the width of thelock base, the wire arms are angled to extend outwardly and rearward tothe rear end of the wire lock and then angling the ends of the wireinwardly at an angle generally parallel to the front end of the wirelock to extend the respective ends of the arms towards the opposite sideof the wire lock to form an abutment surface; and

iv. passing a spring biased wire through the forward hole to positionthe front end at the front hole and positioning the rear end into theone or more rear openings.

The process of manufacture further comprises tapering the forward end ofthe shaft.

In one embodiment, the manufactured pin has a head is threadablyreceived onto the rearward end. Optionally or alternatively, the headhas no driver compatible shape. In another embodiment, the head has adriver compatible shape. By driver compatible shape it means that thehead is shaped and configured to be compatible with a screwdriver head awrench or socket driver.

In another embodiment, there is a method of locking an object having afirst wall, an at least partially enclosed cavity and a second wallopposite the first wall and a hole extending through the first wall andsecond wall. The hole has a predetermined hole diameter. The methodcomprises the steps of:

(b) providing a pin as described in one of the embodiments herein;

(c) inserting the pin into the hole of the of the first wall of theobject;

(d) sliding the object along the pin shaft in a rearward direction tocause the wire lock to be compressed from the first uncompressedposition toward the second compressed position until the first wall ofthe object is positioned between the abutment surface and the rearwardend of the shaft effectively locking the object therebetween.

In one embodiment, the wire lock of the device is positioned in thecavity after the step of sliding. The method comprises the further stepsof:

(d) compressing the wire lock so that the rear width of the wire lock isless than the diameter of the hole; and

(e) sliding the pin relative to the hole to remove the pin from the holeafter the step (d) of compressing.

In another embodiment, there is a method of fastening a hollow object toa hollow item. The hollow object has a first object wall, and at leastpartially enclosed object cavity. The hollow object also has a secondobject wall opposite the first object wall and an object hole extendingthrough the first object wall and the second object wall. The objecthole has a predetermined object hole diameter. The hollow item has afirst item wall, and at least partially enclosed item cavity and asecond item wall opposite the first item wall and an item hole extendingthrough the first item wall and second item wall. The item hole has apredetermined item hole diameter. The method comprises the steps of:

(e) inserting the item into the object cavity to align the object holewith the item hole;

(f) providing a pin of claim 1;

(g) inserting the pin into the first object hole;

(h) sliding the object and item along the pin shaft in a rearwarddirection to cause the wire lock to be compressed from the firstuncompressed position toward the second compressed position until atleast the first object wall and the first item wall are positionedbetween the abutment surface and the rearward end of the shafteffectively fastening the object to the item between the abutmentsurface and the pin head.

In one embodiment of the method above, the wire lock is positioned inthe cavity after the step of sliding.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of:

(e) compressing the wire lock so that the rear width of the wire lock isless than the diameter of the object hole; and

(f) sliding the pin relative to the object hole and the item hole toremove the pin therefrom after the step (e) of compressing.

In one embodiment, there is a method of connecting two structuralcomponents of a solar panel mounting system. The method comprises thestep of providing a first component of a solar panel racking systemhaving a first assembly hole and a second component of a solar panelracking system having a second assembly hole that is axially alignablewith the first assembly hole at a desired point of connection of thefirst component with the second component. The process further comprisesaligning the first assembly hole with the second assembly hole.Furthermore, a single piece, locking pin through the first and secondassembly hole until the locking pin secures the first component to thesecond component. A locking pin, is a single piece elongated shapedfastener configured to be received in a compatible shaped hole that hasan integral means of locking itself within the compatible shaped hole.Integral, as used herein in the context of a locking pin means that allparts are permanently connected and are not intended to be separated orreattached during the fastening step.

In one embodiment, the locking pin is a unidirectional locking pin. Byunidirectional, it is meant that the locking pin freely slides in afirst axial direction but is prevented from sliding in the second axialdirection opposite to the first direction.

Optionally, the first component and the second component areindividually selected from the group consisting of screw fastenedmounts, ballasted bases, solar panels, solar panel frames, verticalsupports such as posts, fastening brackets and supporting rails. Screwfastened mounts are components of solar panel mounting systems that arefastened by screw or bolt to a roof or other substrate and extendoutward from the substrate.

Ballast bases are components that are configured to support and anchorone or more solar panels and/or other components to a roof that istypically flat by receiving weights or ballast. Ballasts bases typicallyeliminate the need for penetrating roof fastening systems.

Solar panel frames are defined as the support structure of aphotovoltaic panel. The frame protects the panel from damage andprovides a site for affixing the solar panel to a support system. Theframe typically surrounds the PV cell but can also be affixed to theunderside of the panel.

Vertical supports are components of a photovoltaic system that elevatethe photovoltaic cell off of the substrate surface. They includevertically oriented posts.

Fastening brackets are mechanical structures that are designed tosupport of facilitate the attachment of the solar panel frame to othercomponents. Supporting rails are generally horizontal rails that providea base to which posts, fastening brackets solar panels or solar panelframes can be affixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevated view of the fastening pin of one embodimentof the present invention in an uncompressed position.

FIG. 2 is a front elevated view of the fastening pin of FIG. 1 in acompressed position.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the fastening pin of FIG. 1 taken along thelines of A-A.

FIG. 4 is a side elevated view of the fastening pin of FIG. 1, takenalong the lines of B-B.

FIG. 5 is a front elevated view of the fastening pin of claim 1 withoutthe wire lock assembled.

FIG. 6 is a front elevated view of the fastening pin of FIG. 5 takenalong the lines of C-C.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view wire lock of one embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 8 is an elevated side view of the wire lock of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an elevated front view of the wire lock of FIG. 8 taken alongthe lines of D-D.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a solar panel racking system using thefastener of one embodiment of the invention to fasten a hollow post to ahollow rail.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the fastener shown in circle E of FIG.10.

FIG. 12 is a front elevated view of the fastening pin of one embodimentof the present invention in an uncompressed position.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged end view of the fastening pin of FIG. 12 takenalong the lines of F-F.

FIG. 14 is a side elevated view of the fastening pin of FIG. 12, takenalong the lines of G-G.

FIG. 15 is a front elevated view of the fastening pin of one embodimentof the present invention in an uncompressed position.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged end view of the fastening pin of FIG. 15 takenalong the lines of H-H.

FIG. 17 is a side elevated view of the fastening pin of FIG. 15, takenalong the lines of I-I.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is described with reference to FIG. 1, and FIG. 3to FIG. 6 showing the fastening pin or locking pin 10 of one embodimentof the present invention. The locking pin 10 comprises an elongatedshaft 12 having a forward end 14 and a rearward end 16 with a pinhead 17proximal to the rearward end. A pair of laterally opposed notches 18 and20 is formed at a predetermined location along the length of the shaft12. The portion of the shaft 12 between the pair of laterally opposednotches 18 and 20 is defined for reference purpose as the lock base 22.The lock base 22 has a forward oriented hole 30. It has at least onerear opening 32.

A wire lock 24 is made of a spring-biased wire. The wire lock 24 isdescribed with reference to FIG. 7 and continued reference to FIGS. 1-4.A spring biased (or shape memory) wire is bendable upon compression andgenerally returns to its original shape. Shape memory is defined hereinas any wire that can be deformed by a deforming force and returns to itsoriginal general shape when the deforming force is no longer applied. Bysubstantially, it is understood that excessive deforming and metalfatigue will not permit metal from returning to its exact pre deformedstate. Thus, by substantially, it is meant that the metal returns to itspre-deformed shape enough to function the same way the object functionedbefore deformation state.

The wire lock 24 is biased towards a first uncompressed position and iscompressible towards a second compressed position shown in FIG. 2. Thewire lock 24 has a front end 26 and a rear end 28. It has two wire arms34 and 36 that extend rearward and are biased radially outwardly towardsthe rear end 28 of the wire lock to form a forward facing graduallytapered surface along the wire arms 34 and 36 from the first end to thesecond end and. Proximal to the ends 38 and 40 of the wire arms 34 and36, the wire lock 24 is angled inward towards the center of the shaft.

Returning now to FIGS. 1-4, the wire lock 24 is mounted to the lock base22. The front end 26 of the wire lock 24 passes laterally through theforward hole 30 and the ends 38 and 40 of the wire arms 34 and 36 arereceived into a rear opening 32 located proximal the rear end of thelock base 22. The front end 26 of the wire lock 24 has a width that isless than the diameter of the shaft 12. In the first uncompressedposition, shown in FIG. 1, the rear end 28 of the wire lock 24 is in anuncompressed position and has a width that is greater than width of theshaft 12 to form a rearward facing abutment surface in the rear end 28.In the second compressed position (FIG. 2), the rear end 28 has adiameter less than the diameter of the shaft 12 and is housed within thenotches 18 and 20.

A method of connecting two structural components of a solar panelmounting system is describe by way of example and not by limitation withreference to FIGS. 10-12. It will be well understood that while thediscussion relates to the connection of a rail to a post, a person ofordinary skill in the art could apply the teaching to affix any solarsystem component to another solar system component.

The deployment of the pin 10 is illustrated with reference to a solarpanel racking system 41 illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 with continuedreference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The pin 10 has a shaft 12 that is configuredto be received into a fastening hole 46 of an object. The object can bea post 42 and/or a rail 44. In one embodiment, the present invention isused to secure the post 42 to the rail 44 each having axially alignableholes 46. When the post 42 and the rail 44 are put in their desiredposition, the two holes should be aligned.

The pin 10 is slid into the respective holes 46 of the rail 44 and post42. As the shaft 12 is forced into the hole the wire lock 24 passes intothe hole in a forward direction 54. The sliding of the pin in a forwarddirection 56 causes the wire lock 24 to be compressed inward by thesides of the hole 46 from the first decompressed position shown in FIG.1 toward the second compressed position shown in FIG. 2 until at leastone side of each of the rail 44 and post 42 are positioned between theabutment surface at the rear end 28 of the wire lock 22 and the pin head27. The shape-memory or spring biased wire returns to its decompressedposition preventing the pin from being removed by sliding the holerelative to the pin in a forward direction 54.

In one embodiment, it is desired that the wire selected is of sufficientstrength that it would be difficult to deform the locking pin bysqueezing the pin between a person's fingers. Because of this feature,removing the pin from its deployed position is difficult. While in mostprior art applications of locking pins, it is taught to make bothdeployment of the locking pin and its removal from deployment easy.However, the inventors have discovered that in the present application,the difficulty in removing the pin is a significant safety feature.

Removal of a locking pin is preferably accomplished by using pliers orbolt cutters to cut the locking pin wire as close to the front of thelocking pin as possible. While this effectively makes the pinun-reusable, the tradeoff of increased theft deterrence, and securefastening without risk of undeployment or breaking the fasteningconnection.

In one embodiment, the locking pin 10 has an elongated shaft 12 that hasa tapered forward end 14.

In still another embodiment (not shown), the pinhead is threadable ontothe rear end of the shaft.

In yet another embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 12-14 showing thefastening pin or locking pin 110 of one embodiment of the presentinvention. The locking pin 110. The pin 110 comprises an elongated shaft112 having a forward end 114 and a rearward end 116 with a pinhead 117proximal to the rearward end. A pair of laterally opposed notches 118and 120 is formed at front extremity of the shaft 112. The portion ofthe shaft 112 between the pair of laterally opposed notches 118 and 120is defined for reference purpose as the lock base 122. The lock base 122has a forward oriented notch 130. It has at least one rear opening 132.This particular embodiment makes assembly easy as the wire can beinserted more easily into the notch than in other embodiments where awire is threaded through a hole.

A wire lock 124 is made of a spring-biased wire. The wire lock 124 isbiased towards a first uncompressed position and is compressible towardsa second compressed position shown in FIG. 2. The wire lock 124 has afront end 126 and a rear end 128. It has two wire arms 134 and 136 thatextend rearward and are biased radially outwardly towards the rear end128 of the wire lock to form a forward facing gradually tapered surfacealong the wire arms 134 and 136 from the first end to the second endand. Proximal to the ends 138 and 140 of the wire arms 134 and 136, thewire lock 124 is angled inward towards the center of the shaft.

The wire lock 124 is mounted to the lock base 122. The front end 126 ofthe wire lock 124 passes laterally through the forward hole 130 and theends 138 and 140 of the wire arms 134 and 136 are received into a rearopening 132 located proximal the rear end of the lock base 122. Thefront end 126 of the wire lock 124 has a width that is less than thediameter of the shaft 112. In the first uncompressed position, the rearend 128 of the wire lock 124 is in an uncompressed position and has awidth that is greater than width of the shaft 112 to form a rearwardfacing abutment surface in the rear end 128. In the second compressedposition, the rear end 128 has a diameter less than the diameter of theshaft 112 and is housed within the notches 118 and 120.

The present invention is described with reference to FIG. 15-17 showingthe fastening pin or locking pin 210 of one embodiment of the presentinvention. The locking pin 210. The pin 210 comprises an elongated shaft212 having a forward end 214 and a rearward end 216 with a pinhead 217proximal to the rearward end. A pair of laterally opposed notches 218and 220 is formed at a predetermined location proximal to the forwardend 214 of the shaft 212. The portion of the shaft 212 between the pairof laterally opposed notches 218 and 220 is defined for referencepurpose as the lock base 222. The lock base 222 has a forward orientedhole 230. It has at least one rear opening 232.

The wire lock 224 is made of a spring-biased wire. The wire lock 224 hasa front end 226 and a rear end 228. It has two wire arms 234 and 236that extend rearward and are biased radially outwardly towards the rearend 228 of the wire lock to form a forward facing gradually taperedsurface along the wire arms 234 and 236 from the first end to the secondend and. Proximal to the ends 238 and 240 of the wire arms 234 and 236,the wire lock 224 is angled inward towards the center of the shaft.

The wire lock 224 is mounted to the lock base 222. The front end 226 ofthe wire lock 224 passes laterally through the forward hole 230 and theends 238 and 240 of the wire arms 234 and 236 are received into a rearopening 232 located proximal the rear end of the lock base 222. Thefront end 226 of the wire lock 224 has a width that is less than thediameter of the shaft 212. In the first uncompressed position, the rearend 228 of the wire lock 224 is in an uncompressed position and has awidth that is greater than width of the shaft 212 to form a rearwardfacing abutment surface in the rear end 228. In the second compressedposition, the rear end 228 has a diameter less than the diameter of theshaft 212 and is housed within the notches 218 and 220.

The locking pin embodiments that locate the lock base that is locatedproximal to their respective forward ends are effective embodiments forpins that require the locking pin to pass through the entire object tolock in place.

1. A locking fastener for fastening an object by means of an object holeof a predetermined object hole diameter to the fastener, the fastenercomprising: (a) an elongated pin having a forward end and a rearward endwith a pin head at the rearward end; (b) a pair of laterally opposednotches formed at a predetermined location along the length of the pin,wherein the portion of the pin between the pair of laterally opposednotches is defined as the lock base; (c) a forward hole that extendsthrough the lock base proximal to the forward end of the lock base andone or two rearward holes that extends through the lock base proximal tothe rearward end of the lock base; (d) a wire lock made of spring biasedwire that is biased towards a first uncompressed position and iscompressible towards a second compressed position, wherein the wire lockhas a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end of the wire lockpasses laterally through the forward hole and has two wire arms thatextend rearward and are biased radially outwardly towards the rear endof the wire lock and, proximal to the ends of the wire arms are bentinward and terminate in the one or more rearward holes.
 2. The fastenerof claim 2, wherein the front end of the wire lock has a width that isless than the diameter of the pin and (i) in the first uncompressedposition the rear end of the wire lock in an uncompressed position isgreater than the predetermined object hole diameter to form a forwardfacing gradually tapered surface along the wire arms from the first endto the second end and a rearward facing abutment surface, (ii) in thesecond compressed position the rear end has a diameter less than thepredetermined object hole diameter.
 3. The fastener of claim 2, whereinthe pin is configured to be received into the object hole of the of theobject and the object is slidable in a rearward direction and therebycauses the wire lock to be compressed toward the second compressedposition until the object is positioned between the abutment surface andthe rearward end of the pin effectively locking the object therebetween.4. The locking fastener of claim 3, wherein the elongated pin has atapered forward end.
 5. The locking fastener of claim 3, wherein thehead is threadable onto the rear end.
 6. The locking fastener of claim3, wherein the lock base is located proximal to the forward end.
 7. Thelocking fastener of claim 6, wherein the object has a first wall, an atleast partially enclosed cavity and a second wall opposite from thefirst wall, wherein the object hole passes through the first wall andthe second wall and wherein the lock base is located medially spacedapart from the forward end and wherein the pin is configured to bereceived into the object hole and the object is slidable in a rearwarddirection and thereby causes the wire lock to be compressed toward thesecond compressed position until at least the first wall of the objectis positioned between the abutment surface and the rearward end of thepin effectively locking the object therebetween.
 8. A process for makinga locking fastener configured to fasten an object by means of a objecthole of a predetermined object hole diameter to the fastener, thefastener comprising: (a) providing an elongated pin having a forward endand a rearward end with a pinhead at the rearward end; (b) cutting apair of laterally opposed notches at a predetermined location along thelength of the pin to form a lock base between the notches; (c) forming aforward hole through the lock base proximal to the forward end of thelock base and at least one, rear openings; (d) shaping a wire lockhaving a front end sized and configured to be received through the hole,wherein the width of the front end is less than the diameter of the pinand greater than the width of the lock base, the wire arms are angled toextend outwardly and rearward to the rear end of the wire lock and thenangling the ends of the wire inwardly at an angle generally parallel tothe front end of the wire lock to extend the respective ends of the armstowards the opposite side of the wire lock to form an abutment surface;and (e) passing a spring biased wire through the forward hole toposition the front end at the front hole and positioning the rear endinto the one or more rear openings.
 9. The process of claim 8, furthercomprising tapering the forward end of the pin.
 10. The process of claim8, wherein the lock base is located proximal to the forward end.
 11. Theprocess of claim 8, wherein the lock base is longitudinally spaced apartfrom the forward end.
 12. The process of claim 8, wherein the head isthreadably received onto the rearward end.
 13. The process of claim 8,wherein the head has no driver compatible shape.
 14. A method of lockingan object having a first wall, an at least partially enclosed cavity anda second wall opposite the first wall and an object hole extendingthrough the first wall and second wall, wherein the object hole has apredetermined object hole diameter, the method comprising the steps of:(a) providing the fastener of claim 1; (b) inserting the fastener into afirst wall hole of the of the first wall of the object; (c) sliding theobject along the pin in a rearward direction to cause the wire lock tobe compressed from the first uncompressed position toward the secondcompressed position until the first wall of the object is positionedbetween the abutment surface and the rearward end of the pin effectivelylocking the object therebetween.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein thewire lock is positioned in the cavity after the step of sliding.
 16. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (d) compressing thewire lock so that the rear width of the wire lock is less than thediameter of the object hole; and (e) sliding the pin relative to theobject hole to remove the pin from the object hole after the step (d) ofcompressing.
 17. A method of fastening a hollow object to a hollow item,wherein the hollow object has a first object wall, and at leastpartially enclosed object cavity and a second object wall opposite thefirst object wall and a object hole extending through the first objectwall and second object wall, wherein the object hole has a predeterminedobject hole diameter and wherein the hollow item has a first item wall,and at least partially enclosed item cavity and a second item wallopposite the first item wall and an item hole extending through thefirst item wall and second item wall, wherein the item hole has apredetermined item hole diameter, the method comprises the steps of: (a)inserting the item into the object cavity to align the object hole withthe item hole; (a) providing a fastener of claim 1: (b) inserting thefastener into the first object hole; (c) sliding the object and itemalong the pin in a rearward direction to cause the wire lock to becompressed from the first uncompressed position toward the secondcompressed position until at least the first object wall and the firstitem wall are positioned between the abutment surface and the rearwardend of the pin effectively fastening the object to the item between theabutment surface and the rearward end of the pin.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the wire lock is positioned in the cavity after thestep of sliding.
 19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the stepof: (d) compressing the wire lock so that the rear width of the wirelock is less than the diameter of the object hole; and (e) sliding thepin relative to the object hole and the item hole to remove the pintherefrom after the step (d) of compressing.
 20. A method of connectingtwo structural components of a solar panel mounting system, comprisingthe steps of: providing a first component of a solar panel rackingsystem having a first assembly hole and a second component of a solarpanel racking system having a second assembly hole that is axiallyalignable with the first assembly hole at a desired point of connectionof the first component with the second component; aligning the firstassembly hole with the second assembly hole; and inserting a singlepiece, locking pin through the first and second assembly hole until thelocking pin secures the first component to the second component.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, wherein the locking pin is a unidirectional lockingpin.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein the first component and thesecond component are individually selected from the group consisting ofscrew fastened mounts, ballasted bases, solar panel frames, posts,vertical supports, and fastening brackets and supporting rails.